2014 North Carolina's 12th congressional district special election explained

Election Name:2014 North Carolina's 12th congressional district special election
Country:North Carolina
Type:by-election
Seats For Election:North Carolina's 12th congressional district
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2012#District 12
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2014#District 12
Next Year:2014
Election Date:November 4, 2014
Image1:File:Alma Adams.jpg
Nominee1:Alma Adams
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:127,668
Percentage1:75.4%
Nominee2:Vince Coakley
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:41,578
Percentage2:24.6%
U.S. Representative
Before Election:Mel Watt
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Alma Adams
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

A special election for the United States House of Representatives in North Carolina's 12th congressional district was held on November 4, 2014, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Rep. Mel Watt following his appointment to head the Federal Housing Administration.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory chose to hold the election concurrently with the regular 2014 general elections,[1] rather than hold a separate special election at an earlier date to fill the vacancy. Party primary elections for the seat would be held May 6. Primary runoffs, if needed, were scheduled for July 15 but proved unnecessary, because the only primary winner won more than 40 percent of the vote. According to politician Gerry Cohen, the primary was the first special primary election in North Carolina history, because in previous special elections, committees or conventions of party leaders selected their nominees.[2]

The winner of the special election would serve through the remaining months of the 113th Congress, while the winner of the regular general election being held the same day would serve in the 114th Congress.[3] This is essentially the same procedure used in North Carolina in 1992 to fill the vacancy in the First Congressional District (other than the addition of a primary election). Because Watt resigned in January and the winner of the special election was not seated until after the November election result is official, the district was without a representative for more than 11 months.

Background

Democratic Congressman Mel Watt was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 2013, to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.[4] He resigned from Congress on January 6, 2014, the day he took office as director of FHFA.[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

General election

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Morrill . Jim . Watt's exit will leave scrambled race for Congress . https://archive.today/20131212142253/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/12/09/4533282/watts-exit-would-leave-scrambled.html . dead . December 12, 2013 . Charlotte Observer . December 9, 2013 . December 16, 2013 .
  2. Web site: Charlotte Observer: Special House election for Watt seat to overlap regular schedule . January 7, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140107143603/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/06/4592170/special-house-election-to-overlap.html . January 7, 2014 . dead .
  3. http://www.wral.com/mccrory-calls-special-election-for-watt-seat/13275513/ WRAL.com
  4. News: Senate confirms Patricia Millett, Mel Watt using new majority rules . . Ed O'Keefe and Paul Kane . December 10, 2013.
  5. Web site: Charlotte Observer: Mel Watt to resign from Congress Jan. 6 . December 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131227095846/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/12/20/4559479/mel-watt-to-resign-from-congress.html#.UrzEx2-A3IU . December 27, 2013 . dead .
  6. Web site: Cahn . Emily . Roll Call: Watt Confirmation Kicks Off North Carolina Special Election . Atr.rollcall.com . December 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214024824/http://atr.rollcall.com/watt-confirmation-kicks-off-north-carolina-special-election/ . December 14, 2013 . dead .
  7. News: Dunn. Nash. January 31, 2014. Former Lexington resident announces for 12th District. The Dispatch. February 1, 2014.
  8. News: Jen Wilson. April 15, 2014. James Mitchell drops bid for congressional seat. Charlotte Business Journal. April 17, 2014.
  9. News: Cahn. Emily. January 6, 2014. Election Scheduled to Replace Watt in North Carolina. Roll Call. February 1, 2014.
  10. https://www.scribd.com/doc/212110259/NC-12-Hamilton-Campaigns-for-Alma-Adams-March-2014 Hamilton (D-Adams)
  11. News: Morrill. Jim. January 28, 2014. Ex-anchor Vince Coakley enters congressional race. The Charlotte Observer. February 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140130004608/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/28/4647003/coakley-enters-congressional-race.html. January 30, 2014. dead. mdy-all.